Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): Symptoms and treatment

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus and follows an annual seasonal pattern. By the age of 2, most children will have experienced an RSV infection.

On this page

• Symptoms of RSV
• Complications of RSV
• If you become ill
• Diagnosing RSV
• Treating RSV

Symptoms of RSV

RSV usually causes a mild illness with cold-like symptoms. However, the symptoms may vary from person to person. Symptoms often begin 2 to 8 days after exposure to the virus.

Symptoms may include:

• runny or stuffy nose
• coughing
• sneezing
• wheezing
• fever
• decrease in appetite and energy

In infants, symptoms may include:

• irritability
• difficulty breathing
• decreased appetite or feeding
• decreased activity

Complications of RSV

Possible serious complications and outcomes of RSV include:

• worsening of chronic health conditions, such as:
  • asthma
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• heart complications
• respiratory issues, such as:
  • pneumonia
  • a lung infection that causes inflammation and congestion in the small airways of the lung (bronchiolitis)
  • respiratory failure
• temporary stopping of breathing (apnea) in infants
• hospitalization
• death

For infants and young children, RSV infection is a common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

People at higher risk of developing severe illness include:

• infants (most common)
• older adults
• those who have certain chronic medical conditions, such as:
  • asthma
  • diabetes
  • heart disease
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• those who are immunocompromised
• those who live in long-term care or other chronic care facilities

Although RSV usually causes mild illness, it sometimes presents as a severe infection of the lower respiratory tract requiring hospitalization. Admission to the intensive care unit may be needed in very rare cases.

Reinfection

People of any age who are infected with RSV can get infected again.

Reinfection with RSV is usually less severe in older children and adults.

Reinfection in older adults can have serious health consequences.

If you become ill

To help prevent spreading RSV to others, you should stay home when sick and limit close contact with other people until symptoms have resolved. An example of limiting contact would be to only have one caregiver for your sick child if possible.

In addition to staying home and avoiding close contact when sick, you can help protect others by using personal protective measures.

Preventing RSV using personal protective measures

It's especially important to limit contact with people who are at risk of more severe complications from RSV infection.

If you require an in-person appointment, tell your health care provider about your symptoms over the phone and follow their instructions.

If you need immediate medical attention, call 9-1-1 and tell them your symptoms.

Learn more about:

• Complications of RSV
• RSV: Who is most at risk

Diagnosing RSV

Your health care provider may suspect RSV based on symptoms and the time of year the virus usually is circulating. This is usually from the fall to the early spring.

People admitted to hospital may have a nose swab done to confirm the diagnosis.

Treating RSV

Usually, RSV infections are mild and clear up on their own in 1 to 2 weeks.

There’s no specific treatment for RSV.

RSV symptoms can improve with:

• rest
• drinking fluids, like water
• over-the-counter medication to reduce fever or aches, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen

Over-the-counter cough and flu medicine should not be given to children younger than 6 years old. It's only safe to do so if your health care provider advises it.